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GJPD officer taken off duty

A Grand Junction police officer is being investigated by his own department and by the Mesa County Sheriff’s Department after his arrest.

The Sheriff’s Department received an arrest warrant for Officer Courtney Crooks, 24, on Thursday. On Friday, the Police Department said in a news release Crooks had been placed on unpaid administrative leave while the department performs two internal investigations that involve Crooks.

Sheriff’s Department deputies arrested Crooks on suspicion of misdemeanor physical harassment after a woman told deputies Crooks grabbed her by the back of the neck on Aug. 18, according to an arrest affidavit. The woman also accused Crooks pushed her on two previous occasions as. Crooks told deputies he had pushed the woman at least once before and touched her on Aug. 18, but “not in any harmful way,” according to the affidavit.

Crooks was not on duty at the time, and the woman was not a criminal suspect, the affidavit said.

Crooks received his associate degree in law enforcement in May 2006 and became a police cadet in Grand Junction two years ago, according to a June 2007 Police Department newsletter.

The Police Department noted in its news release it could not immediately discuss its internal investigations involving Crooks because its investigations are into personnel matters. The Aug. 18 allegation is a separate investigation.

“This is something we take very seriously, and we will make sure each allegation is thoroughly investigated. Once the facts are known, we will take the appropriate action,” Police Chief Bill Gardner said in the news release.